Game apparatus.



G. W. COOPER.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. m5;

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Gmye'WGooper Patentad Nov. 27, 1917.

G. W. COOPER.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. m5.

-1,%7,6%. Patented Nov. 27, 191?.

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GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 20, 1915. Serial No. 15,701.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE V. COOPER, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GameApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in game apparatus andmore particularly in that class of such apparatus which involve the useof a target member at which projectiles are to be discharged and the object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this generalcharacter having a novel and improved construction and arrangement oftarget devices together with novel and improved means for dischargingprojectiles thereat whereby accurate aim is afforded in order that skillmay be devel oped in such a way as to add interest to the game.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction andcombinations and arrangements of the several parts of the improved gameapparatus whereby certain improved advantages are attained and theapparatus is rendered simpler,less expensive and Otherwise betteradapted and more convenient for use, all as will be hereinafter setforth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theclaims.

In Order that my improvements may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing target devicesembodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating one embodimentof theimproved means for discharging projectiles at the target devices;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the devices shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view somewhat similar to Fig. 2 but showingcertain of the operative parts in differently adjusted positions;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified formationof the means for holding the separable target members in place upon thebase member or chart, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified formation of theprojectile dis charging means comprised in my present invention.

As shown in these views the improved game apparatus comprises a chart orbase member 1 of which two or more may be provided dependent upon thenumber of persons playing the game, and which as herein shown is made inthe form of a flat rectangular sheet of pasteboard or similar materialhaving produced upon it the outline 2 of a harbor or equivalentsubject-matter, there being positions or stations marked by suitableinsignia as indicated at 3 adjacent to the outline of said harbor atwhich rectangular shields or squares of pasteboard or the like indicatedat l are to be detachably supported.

The chart or base member is also provided with other characters orinsignia produced thereon as indicated at 5 in the drawings at whichother target devices 6 are to be detachably supported, these lattertarget devices as herein shown also formed from pasteboard or othersuitable material and Patented Nov. 27, 1191?.

being shaped or fashioned to represent battleships or soldiers, etc,which may be considered to be acting in connection with fortificationsrepresented by the shields or squares 4 for the protection of the harboror fort or the like indicated at 2 upon the chart or base member. Wherea plurality of the charts or base members are provided, they may besimilar to each other in size and outline so that they may beconveniently packed in a pasteboard or other box, which may also beutilized as a container for the other parts of the game apparatus, andwhen this is done the cover and body of the box may be erected back ofthe charts or base members as indicated at 6 on the drawings, to affordback grounds to be struck by projectiles discharged at the targetdevices to prevent the same from becoming lost.

In order to locate the target devices 4: and 6 upon the charts or basemembers, the indices or equivalent devices 3 and 5 may be located indifferent angular positions as clearly indicated in Fig. 1, whereby thetarget devices are caused to stand at angles to the direction of theprojectiles to render them less easy of being struck and require greateraccuracy of aim in playing the game. One or more of the indices asindicated at 3 on the drawings may also be located in the rear of theshields 4, at so that the target device 6 erected thereon will beprotected from movably in position until struck: by the projectiles. InFig. l I have shown the target devices 4 and 6 provided for this purposewith pins 8 extended downwardly through themhaving their points adaptedto penetrate. the charts or base members in such a way as to holdthetarget devices in erect position thereon but it will be obvious thatother means may be provided for this purpose as, for example, that shownin Fig. 5 of the drawings wherein the chart or base member 1 is providedwith upwardly extended pointed pins 9 which may penetrate the lower edgeportions of the target devices to hold them in erect positions. Inapplying the target devices to the charts or base members it may bepreferable to permit each player to apply the target devices to hisopponents chart or base member 1 so as to insureagainst such extremepenetration of the pins as would interfere with the overturning ordisplacement of the target de vices when struck by the projectiles. Diceor some other equivalent means may be provided for determining thepositions in which the several target devices are to be applied to thecharts and to facilitate the use of such means I have shown the indices5 provided with members 5 which may correspond with the membersindicated by the dice when thrown in a well-known way.

In connection with the target devices above described my invention alsocomprises an improved gun for discharging projectiles, one of whichdischarging devices may be provided for each of the players. As hereinshown the discharging means is made in simulation of a gun 10 mountedupon a carriage 11. The gun and its carriage may be produced withconvenience from wood in two pieces for the sake of economy gluedtogether orotherwise joined along the line indicated at 12 and tosupport the device I 50.

have shown the same provided with a flattened base 14 also of wood orthe like having upturned dowels 15 adapted for detachable engagement inapertures in the lower part ofthe member 11 so as to support the devicein erect position upon a table or the like in order that aim may betaken by each player for accurately discharging the projectiles towardhis opponents target devices.

Q 1 .As herein shown the gun is adapted to be 60 pose it is providedwith duplicate projectile loaded with two projectiles for whichpurholdingand releasing means arranged side by side and separated by agroove 16 produced in the upper surface of the gun 10 as clearlyindicated in Fig. 3, The projectile holding means comprises a raised ribor bead 17 extended longitudinally of the gun barrel having abutments 18and 19 at its forward and rear extremities so that said rib orprojection is adapted to receive a rubber band 20 suitably stretched orelongated to place it under tension and permit it to be stretched fromthe forward abutment 18 with which one, of the endsoftl e band-isengaged to the rearmost abutment 19 with which the opposite end of'saidband is engaged as clearly indicated in Figs.2 and 3. At the rearabutment each projectile holding means is provided with a centralupwardly extending curve or groove 21 in which is engaged the forwardbent end 22 of a trigger 23 constituting the projectile releasing meansand pivoted at 24 upon the V side of the gun.

25 represents a spring engaged with the trigger and exerting its tensionto hold the same normal with its bent forward end portion 23 depressedtoward the base of the 1 groove or curve 21 as indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 2 so as to bepositioned beneath the rear end of the band or proectile 20 and in position to engage and lift the same, when the triggeris moved pivotally at which aim has been taken. For .conven-,,

iently operating the triggers they are provided with upwardly extendedthumb pieces 26 adapted to be readily engaged by the players finger inorder to rock saidtriggers upon their pivots, the springs 25 servingautomatically to retract the triggers into lowered positions after theprojectile is discharged.

To facilitate aiming the gun in order 7' that the barrel may be elevatedor depressed as conditions may require I have shown the same providedwith a detachable wedgeshaped part 30 adapted to be inserted beneath therear or forward end of the base plate 14 in such a way as to elevate orde press the barrel of the gun at such an angle as may be necessaryto'assure accurate aim.

The elevating member being detachable may be readily packed within thecontainer with the remaining parts of the apparatus. The base member 1ftbeing detachable from the body portion of the gun is also capable ofbeing readily packed within the container. 7

The projectiles employed may be ordinary rubber bands of any desired.size and strength and .m certain cases where the bands are too lightthey maybe twisted consequently increase or lessening of the repeatedlyaround the ribs Or beads 17 in.

order to assure greater or less tension and o trajectory and may beknotted or Weighted.

at the end or ends if found necessary in judgment of player to insurestrength and accuracy.

From the above description it Will be seen that the improved gameapparatus con structed according to my invention is of an extremelysimple and comparatively ineX pensive nature and is particularly Welladapted for use by reason of the skill required for successfully playingthe game and of the absolute safety attained by the employment of rubberbands in lieu of other projectiles such as have been heretofore employedin connection With game apparatus and it will also be obvious from theabove description that the game apparatus is capable of somemodification Without material departure from the principles and spiritof the invention and for this reason I do not desire to be understood aslimiting myself to the precise formation and arrangement of the severalparts herein set forth incarrying out my invention in practice. Forexample, the target devices may represent a city or other position to bedefended and the projectile discharging means may be in the form of apistol, shoulder arm or other arm different from that herein shown.

In Fig. 6 I have also illustrated a modified formation of the projectiledischarging means in Which the rear abutment 19 for maintaining therubber band under tension is carried upon the upper end of the trigger23 so as to be adapted to be disengaged from the rubber band When thetrigger is actuated by the players finger.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. In game apparatus, a gun having spaced abutmentsadapted to be engaged by the opposite ends of an elongated rubber band,one of said abutments having a slot crossed by one end of said band, anda trigger pivotally supported and having a forwardly directed portionnormally seated in said slot beneath said band, and engageable With saidrubber band, When the trigger is moved pivotally to release said end ofthe rubber band from said slotted abutment when the trigger is actuated.

2. In a device of the character described, a body portion having acentral longitudinal groove aifording at its opposite sides elevatedparts provided With spaced abutments at their opposite ends, theabutments of each elevated part being adapted to be engaged by theopposite ends of a rubber band to hold the same under tension, and

said longitudinal groove being of a Width adapted to permit the lateralparts of said .rubber bands to be extended therein side by side, andmeans for releasing a band from the abutments of each elevated partindependently of the release of another band engaged With the abutmentsof the other elevated part.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of tWosubscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE W. COOPER.

Witnesses:

J. D. CAPLINGER, D. L. RUBINoW.

Gepies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

